Water Management Support Methodologies: State of the Art

Abstract

Improved water management is highly required as water related disasters are on the rise. Population growth and climate change are likely to exacerbate those problems in the future and the number of people affected, total loss in lives, and economic damage is expected to increase. Moreover, people in developed societies expect that water is always available at the right moment and at the desired quantity and quality. It is clear that water managers are faced with enormous challenges to manage the scarce water resources in a sustainable and appropriate manner to meet demands of societies. However, current water management practices are still focused on responding to events occurred in the past: the re-active approach. Some typical examples (amongst numerous others): • The tsunami from December 2004 has led to a tsunami warning system • The flooding in The Netherlands in 1953 was the starting point for the Delta-works • After the devastating flooding in Bangladesh in 1991 (138,000 casualties) an early-warning system was established • The critical situation of the Dutch dikes in 1995 and 1998 has led to a shift in water management policies (Nationaal Bestuursakkoord Water) At many international high level ministerial and scientific meetings (i.e. World Water Forum 1997, 2000, 2003; World Water Council; World Summits) a call for more strategic oriented water management, the pro-active approach, has been advocated. Despite these calls such a pro-active approach is hardly adopted by water managers and policy makers. Water managers and decisions makers are aware of the necessity of this paradigm shift, the change in thinking from a re-active towards a pro-active approach, but are confronted with the lack of appropriate methodologies. Instruments that are currently available are just tools on its own, while integrated instruments are required that cover the entire range leading from data to information to knowledge to policies: Integrated Water Management Support Methodologies (IWMSM). To be prepared for the paradigm shift Integrated Water Management Support Methodologies (IWMSM) are needed that go beyond the traditional operational support tools. Note that these IWMSM are more than only tools, but include conceptual issues, theories, combining technical and socio-economic aspects. Moreover, demonstration and awareness raising regarding the opportunities these IWMSM offer are essential to ensure wider application. IWMSM consist out of three components each with its own characteristics and purposes (Figure 1): • Physical component. This part of the IWMSM relies on accurate description of the physical processes related to water. • Allocation component. This component is mainly used to evaluate the impact of human interference in water distribution and allocation issues for water shortage as well as water excess. 6 FutureWater • Multi-criteria component. This part of the IWMSMS is used widely for all kind of applications, but only to a very limited extent for water management issues so far. The multi-criteria approach is however of paramount importance in strategic decisions involving multiplestakeholders.